Pansies are some of the most low-maintenance and hardy plants you can add to your garden. But even these tough little beauties aren’t 100% bulletproof when it comes to pests and diseases. If you notice something looks “off,” you’ll want to act fast to keep your flower beds looking their best.
Common Pansy Problems
Even though they aren’t super finicky, pansies can fall victim to several common garden issues. Keep an eye out for these usual suspects:
- Aphids
- Powdery and Downy Mildew (look for a flour-like coating on the tops or bottoms of leaves)
- Root Rot
- Leaf Spot (identifiable by dry, discolored patches on the foliage)
- Spider Mites
- Gray Mold (a fuzzy, grayish coating on the leaves)
How to Fight Back
The best way to handle an outbreak depends on what you’re dealing with. If you spot mildew, try a DIY approach: brew a “tea” from garlic and onions, let it cool, and spray it directly on the affected plants. For aphids, natural remedies like lavender oil or even used coffee grounds can do the trick.
However, if you’re dealing with Gray Mold or Leaf Spot, it’s best to play it safe and pull the infected plants entirely to stop the spread to their neighbors. A quick tip: don’t toss these sick plants in your compost pile! Put them in the regular trash so the pathogens don’t stick around in your soil. When it comes to Root Rot, prevention is your best friend—make sure you’re following good care practices and avoiding soggy, waterlogged soil.
Boost Resilience by Growing Your Own
If you want the toughest plants on the block, consider starting from scratch. Growing pansies from seed usually results in much hardier, more resilient plants compared to the ones you pick up at the big-box store.
You can sow seeds in early fall for the following year or start them indoors to get a head start, transplanting them into the garden around March or April. Either way, home-grown pansies are way less likely to get sick, giving you a much more vibrant and stress-free garden!
